Control mechanism



June 3, 1930. H. F. SMITH CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l .ZYUEJYZUF.

22K UPHE 5 June? :1930. H. F. SMITH 1,761,849

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Sept. 2 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 q 51/572127? tz?]; 5,5 JIM-"L w f7g/ jlu up zLai V ZZUFJJR E June 3, 1930. H. FSMITH 1,761,849

CONTROL MECHANI SM Filed se hz, 1924 :s Sheets-Sheet s Mine; JEY'UEZYIDF Q I I J I ,I I -yan'uhwsuw QZ ZUPHEZ E Patented. June 3, 193d UN TED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE HARRY r. smrrn, or DAYTON, omo, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAS RESEARCH COMPANY, or

DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION or 01110 1 CONTROL MECHANISM Application filed September. 2, 1924. Serial No. 735,523.

This invention relates to a gas-power system, and more particularly to such a system intended for domestic use.

One of the principal objects of the inven-.

tion is to provide a gas-power generating system, comprising a producer for generating a combustible gas, an engine-generator for operating upon the generated gas to sup ply electricity to a distribution circuit and to charge a storage battery, a heating device for Operating upon the generated gas, and means for controlling the operation of the engine to causethe generator driven thereby to sub stantially carry the distribution load.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power generating systemcomprising a gas producer,-a gasengine connected thereto, an electric enerator driven by the engine a storage attery, and control mechanisny-for eontrolling the output of the engine toicause the genera-tor'to substantially carry the distribution load.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide apower plant comprising an engine, electric generator and electric battery, with control mechanism arranged to permit running the-engine continuously-on the battery line without damagin the battery.

Still another 0 ject of the invention is to provide a power generating system comprismg a storage battery, an engine-generator large enough in capacity to carry a load in excess of the battery 'ca acity, and means for con-trolling the rate 0' charge to the battery concomitantly with variable external load.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gas generating system comprising means for automatically varying the volume of gas taken from the gas plant so as to keep this volume assmall as possible and at the same time maintaining the gas quality at suffi cieutly high grade to be combustible.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, which Fig. l'is an elevational and somewhat diagrammatical view of a gas-power plant embodyi'ng the invention.

thus capableat all times meet the demand;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the controller, partly in section on the line 2-2 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section onthe line 33 of Fig. 2; g

Fig. 4 is a view .showing the linkage between the controller'and the engine throttle valve;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the control mechanism of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a gas-power plant similar to that shown in-Fig. 1, but constructed so that the engine-generator utilizes the entire gas output of the producer.

In the supplying of gas for domestic and analogous purposes, it is quite desirable that the gas generating system be so arranged that gas shall be at all times available to theuser.

This my be accomplished by providing for gas storage b u t the use. OLsuch. storage is costly, dangerous, mmwaeata'ra eliminateptms gas sfiirage, the plant'-' shoiild be such that it will supply gas when needed, in the quantities needed. And such a plant should preferably be one adapted for running 4 continuously for considerable periods, and for flexibility 'in operation.

This invention comprises the providing of a gas and power supplying system which is adapted to economically supply gas for heating, cooking, etc., andelectricity for lighting and power purposes. And it comprises as elements of the apparatus for accomplishing these things, a gas producer to which is connected a gas engine-electric generator for generating electrical energy, and a pump for blasting of the producer for generating gas as needed.

As shown, no gas storage is provided and consequently the producer is intended to operate continuously so that the fuel bed will be at all times in good gas making condition and of generating gas to As shown in Fig. 1 the producer has connected thereto a pump for blasting the fuel bed of the producer during operation to'generate the amount of gas needed for'operating the engine and for supplying such gas as may. be needed for heating purposes. The

electric-generator is not only connected to the distribution line, but it is also connected capacity of the generator; the battery taking care of anytemporary load in excess of. the

engine-generator c'a acity, and furnishing; such energby as may needed from time to time for astin the producer duringthe starting period a er a shut down, such as is.

1. necessary from time to time to ermit of cleaning'the producer, or the puri er, or for 'other analogous reasons. The electric system is provided with control mechanism for e output of the engine so that the vaFying generator w1 husparry the electr c load, under normaloperatingpenditions;

With this, arrangement, tlFengine may operate over" long periods.- The control a means -'functionsto limit the char e to the 7 storage battery sothatit is charge at a low rate; Consequently',' although the engine enerator has capacity in excess of the liter-35c re t attery, no damage to the battery W1 [even if the charging is continued over long periods of time.

As showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pump for'supplying gas to the gas distribution pipe is operated by a suitable electric motor. But the-pump may be driven in any other suitable way, asby means of a hot air'engine operating u on 1part of the heat energy made 'availa 1e y't ing. reactions in. the producer, or it may beg main 28. Located in the circuit of the motor e gas makoperated in any other suitable'way.

'Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 6, the apparatus comprises a 'g'asproducer 10, a purifier 11, an internal combustion engine 12 connected to the producer and arranged in driving connection with an electric generator 13, for charging a storage battery 14 andv for supplying current to a distribution circuit 15. The engine '12 is provided with a controller 16 for controlling theout at of the generator to meet .the demands in t e distribution circuit, The engine-generator thus carries the normal distribution load the bat- .tery carrying art of the load only when the load exceeds t e capacity of the engine-gem erator. Consequently, the batte may be of comparatively small capacity. d since it is not subjected to ra id discharge and charge its life is greatly pro onged.

The producer 10 may be of any desired type, but it is preferably of the type shown in the coending application of: Harry F.

Smith, erial No. 570972 filed-June26, 1922,

- comprising an unlined metallic shell and so constructed that durin tion the active zone 0 gas making operathe fuel 'bed is restricted so as to be completely surrounded by a zone of inactive carbonaceous material. Such a producer is very flexible in operation and will respond almost instantaneously also be of any desired kind, such as applicants well-known glass wool type; or one containing a layer of finely divided'purify- "ing materlal, such, for example, as carbonaceous material divided until the particles are of.

a fineness corresponding tothe dimensions of the particles of impurities to be removed.

The engine is preferably connected throughv the delivery main to the as outlet pipe 17 of the purifier,'the inlet o thepurifier being 1 .connected' to the interior of the producer through the oiftake pipe 18. .Also'connected in the pipe 17 is a pump 19, driven in any suitable mannerfas by means ofan electric motor 20 connected in the distribution circuit of the generator 13. The arrangement is also such that, with the electric generator not operating the pump may be operated from the storage battery for blasting'thejfuel bed of the producer during-"starting. This pump draws a'blast through theproducer to cause the generation ofgas, which as is forced by the pump through the gas dellvery pipe 21 -to suitable heating or ,Work devices, such as r the engine 12, the stove illustrated diagrammatically at 22, and the conventional, do- 1 mestic, hot water heating tank shown dia- I grammatically at 23.

Located in the delivery pipe 21 isa. three waylvalve 26, preferably of the turn plug type; f One outlet of the casing of the valve 26 is connected to-the vent pipe 27 while the other outlet is connected to the gas delivery 20 is a hand operated switch-29L The'ar rangement of the valve is such that moving the handle in one direction moves the valve to connect the interior of the producer to the vent pipe, while movin it in the opposite direction connects the interior -of the producer to the gas delivery -main-28. v In starting the producer the valve handle is' moyed to connect the producer to vent. Theswitch 29 is then actuated torclo'se the pumpniotor'circuit to blow up the fuel bedl When the gas is of suitable quality the producer is disconnected from vent and the valve The eleccontroller 16 which is connected by means of link 35 with the throttle valve 36.

' Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 5 in-' clusive it will be seen that the controller com prisesiprimarilyia' field frame or stator 37 the same sense, that is, magnetic fields which supplement one. another, so that,- as illustrated in Fig.-- 3, the-combined magnetic field of the, two windings 39 will 'extendhorizon- ;tally within-,the; ousing 40. The return i pathfor the magnetic field outside of the coils *39;is "throug'h the iron. ofthe'housing 40. The iron housing. 40 forms amagnetic shield 5 which protects the electrical parts from the -.infiuence"of.outside magnetic fields and of adjacent bodies of magnetic material, and hence the governor, being free fromextraneous fnagnetic influence, is said to be astatic.

J ou'rnalled in the side walls-of the housing '40 is a shaft 42-uponwhich is supported the armature or rotor 38.] The latter consists generally of a laminated iron core 43 having wound-aboutitsstem portion two shunt coils lor windings 44 of relatively fine wire. These coils are connected in series with one another, and the termin'al portions thereof are passed through air aperture in the hollow shaft 42 to v su ita b ly ins ulated. binding po sts 45 mo11nted 1511; the'sidleif tlfelioising 40. The twi'shunt heads of the armature. Mounted on the end of the shaft 42 is a block or lever 46 for ope ating the link"35..

Referring particularly to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the windings orcoils 39, being in parallel with one another, are connected in series with the charging circuit from the dynamo electric machine 13 to thebattery 14. These windings are therefore termed series windings. The winding 44 'is' connected across the poles of the battery 14 or of the dynamo electric machine 13, and this wind- 5 ing is therefore termed a shunt winding. Consequently the electromagnet part of the rotor, of which this. shunt winding forms a part, is of constant or unchanging polarity. The link 35 is connected at its upper end with the arm of the throttle plate 47 which is pivoted 'at 48. The throttle plate 47 is movable to open or close the engine intake thereby admitting more or less gas to the.

engine so that it ma carry more or less load. The proportion an weight of the parts is such that when the controller is'not energized the throttle valve will be Wide open as shown in Fig. 4. g m

WVhen the hottle is fully open as-illustrated in Fig. 4 the armature 38 is disposed at right angles to the magnetic field produced by the coils 39 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Upon operation of the engine the electric machine 13 begins to charge the battery 14 the current the electric machine through series windings passing from the positive pole of 39 of the controller to'the positive pole of the battery pole of the battery back to the negative pole of the .electric machine 13. The effect "of such-a charging current passing'through the. produce-a magnetic to turn the armature 38 in aseries windings 39 is to field tendin counter-cloc wise direction to closethe'throttle valve. valve closes, fora given current flow through The extent-to which-the throttle and thence from the negative the controller, is determined by' the effective weight of the moving parts, and to vary this there is provided an adjustable .wei ht- 50 which is movable upon thearm-Sl.

extent to which the throttle valve 36 may. be closed.

a'd-', justahle stop 52 is also provided to limit the This construction of the governor or 'con- I troller is such that by adjusting the positioning of the weight 50 any desired condi-- tion of charging current flowing from the generator to the battery may be established. That is, the rate of charge to the battery may be varied from substantially no charge on up to maximum charge. According to thepres ent invention, however, it is desired to nor mally operate theengine 12 at a small rac-'- t i on gf its maximnn'f'l'oad-wherebyt @hvide theininimum '3'ii ll(:ll il1'- tdfin'aintairfth gas fproducerin continuoush ei ationat minimum load-or driving rate. lowest rate of blast which will maintain the fuel bed incandescent so that it will respond quickly to furnish. any desired increased quantity of good combustible gas to meetin y this is meant the creased demand. It has been foundin prac- Lice that with a producer of the character described above, with an effective grate diamete'r of 4 inches, operating upon charcoal, the generation of enough gas to" heat' the water in the ordinary hot water tank will keep the fuel bed in good gas making-condition; such condition that it will respond almost instantaneously from conditionof min- -imum loadv to maximum load. As shown, however, in Fig, 1, the'pump 19 operates continuously during operation of the producer.

This requires operation of the engine. The exhaust gases from the engine pass .througha waste heat boiler 60 which is connected to the hot water heater 23. Also the water jacket .ofthe engine cylinder is connected to thehot water tank. And the waste heat from the engine .is ordinarily sufiicient to keep the water in the hot water system at the desired temperature. But a burner, and heating coil, designated generally by the numeral '61, may be used if desired. The controller is so adjusted that when the engine-generator is operating at minimum load the generator will charge the battery at a low rate, preferably at a rate not in excess of one or two amperes. Y i I With the controller thus adjusted to charge the battery at a low ratethe armature 38 takes membering thatfth'e armature is "disposed 'obliquely to the magnetic field while the battery is being charged, it will be seen upon reference to Fig. .5 that should there be a demand for current in the'distribution- C1!- Cllit this current musttemporarily reduce the current flowingf-rom the generator 13 through the series coils 39, to'the battery, thereby weakening the magnetic field-and permitting the armature toturn in a clocK- wise direction whereby the throttle valve is opened to admit more gas to the-engine. Thisresults in anincrease in the output of the generator, until the latter notonly supplies the demand in the distribution circuit but. brings the current then flowing to the battery to substantially its original predetermined value.

a The rotor. 38 is preferably so wound that duringoperationthecore is in a substan- -operatiu'g range.

tially saturated condition and is therefore substantially. independent of voltage variations in the rotor winding 44', within the Asstated above, this control is preferably so'arranged that the rate, of charge to the battery is low, The'ba'tteryv do'es not'normally I carry any part of the'load, the engine-gen-fl erator' carrying the entire distribution load so long as that load is within its .capacity.

Consequently, the E. M. F. of the battery remains substantially constant long as the rate of charge or discharge is'small when compared with the ultimatecapacity of the battery. Therefore, because of the stabiliz-.

ing effect of the battery, the voltage delivered by, the generator is maintained substantially constant during operation at varying loads.

The apparatus, as thus far described, may be used to furnish-both gas for heating 'purposes and electricityfor lighting and power; or itmay be used as a power system alone.

, Thevarious types of house lighting-power plants on the market have been generally designed to operate upon gasoline, kerosene,

or some analogous fuel; but they will operate just as satisfactorily upon producer gas, certain minor adjustmentswith respect to valve opening, etc'., being, however, generally duction of electricity for lighting and power sponsive device, subject to the pressure in the 130.

necessary. However, in Fig. 6 the apparatus is shown as designed primarily for the pro- I purposes,entirely aside from the. use of the producer to supply gas for cooking, heating, and the like. 4

And in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 6, that part ofthe apparatus which is needed for effecting the supply of 'gas for purposes other than the operating of the engine-generator is not shown. lVhere the apparatus is to supply only electricity the pump 19 is not-needed as the-engine during operationwil-l'furnish'the suction for blasting the fuel bed'tocause-thegenegation of such gas as is needed. But 'pref erably '"a startirg;. j

blower-70 is'provided, for use during the blowing "p or'starting period. ,This blower is preferably ofethe motor operated.centrif-.. ugaltype, the motorbeing connected to the storage battery. Mounted in the inlet of the blbwer housing is a three-way valve, preferably of "the turn plugtypc, designated generally by the numeral 71. Mounted on the casin of this valve are two contacts 72in the circuit of the starting motor. Carried 'by the valve 0 crating handle 73is a contact member 74. 8 is connected to the inlet of the blower housing, the outlet of 'the'blower housing beingconnected to the vent pipe 27". outlet of the valve casing is connected tothe purifier inlet 75. that moving the valve handle in one direction moves-the valve to'conn'ect the interior of the=producer to the-starting'blower and at fltlie same time moves the contact 'member 74- to close the'starting blower moto'r'circuit to 100.

thus cause blasting of the fuel' bed of the producer, the products of combustion escaping through the vent pipe; while moving .the valve h-andlein the opposite direction-moves the valve to connect the producer to the inlet of the purifier,-an d' so to the. engine, at the same time moving the contact member 74 to open the starting blower motor circuit.

While the engine is shown as connected to operateupoh producer gas is obvious that where the use of gas for heatingpurposes is not desired the engine will operate upon any suitable fuel. And regardless of the form of fuel used the controller described herein is applicable,this form of controller being generally applicable in -connection with any form of lighting or .power plant.

Y Where the apparatus is arranged to supply gas for heating and cooking purposes, as

well as electricity, the motor, 20, which operates the pump'f19 should be of variable I speed, so that the blastingof the producer -may be controlled to generate gas in accord ance with load demands. Apparatus for. thuscontrolling -the operation of. the 'pum shown somewhat diagrammatically in F1 1. -of the drawing; This apparatus comprises -a rheostat, designated by the numeral 80,

which is operated by meausof a pressure rene outlet of the valve casing The other I The arrangement is such 95 delivery pi 28. The pressure responsive.

device may e of any desired ch'aracteryand *itisshown, diagrammatically, as a gasom'eter, the lower bell 81 of which recelves the therein, the upper bell 82 being m'ova le and of the battery is very low, no damage will be done to the battery even though it should go reach a state of completechargeandbe subjectedto continued charging. For at the low rate of charge no damage would result.

The battery, of course, has a low internal resistance. In addition, the series winding of the controller as described has a low internal resistance. Consequently a slight vo'ltage increase at the generator, above the coun- 3 ter E. M. F. of the battery, will cause a large current flow through the control apparatus. This gives very accurate control due to the resulting large power changes.

Furthermore, it is not necessary that the storage batter be usedat all for helping to carry the-10a madeiquite small and purposes. g I

As described the a paratus definitely con- 'trols. the blasting-oi the producer so that the fuel bed'is'maintained in good gas mak- 0 ing condition. If, for example, the condition used only for control of the fuel bed varies so that for a given blast the quality of the generated gas decreases materially the engine can not carry its load and conseqliliently the governor will be affected to vary t 'e' throttle openin to permit more gas to enterthe engine cylin er. This in turn reacts, through the pressure contact, on the pump so that the producer is blasted at a greater rate and this brings the fuel bed back to the'desired condition.

Also this arrangement makes for most efficient operation of the apparatus. The efiiciency. of an engine generator is normally low at such small loads as correspond to minimum 5 driving rate of the producer. But when the gas is burned in the engine 0 linder the water of the hot water system is eated about the same as if the same quantity of gas were burned to heat the water direct. Consequenta0 ly the electricity generated at this time is in the nature of a by-product and costs nothing above the normal cost of maintaining the fuel bed of the prodficer in good gas making condition. From the above description it will be ap .two co-operating ends of the delivery ipe 28 I Bly connected to the rheostat to vary the And, if desired, it may be parent that the present invention provides a power unit in which the ga'sproducer is operated q tsdv nteg eqs y nder l 1 o tions'of load; and mat s p w plant u as a whole is operated most advantageously for the reason that the gas coming off'from the gas producer when it is operati'n at minimum load is completely utilized an converted into electrical energy which is subsequently available to supplement the generator when the latter is operating at -f ull'capacity, thereby givin the power plantunit an electrical output, or a time at least, in excess of the output of the generator alone. The present invention hasv marked advantages over similar power plants inwhich-the engine is operated intermittently at full load to charge a storage battery, for the reasonthat, in addition to the superior operation of the gas-pro ducer itself, a great savingin costmaybe effected by the use of astorage battery of relatively small capacity as com are'd with the large capacity batteriesrequired when the battery is relied upon for ordinary electrical loads and the engine is-not operated except for large loads or to char e'the battery, in

which case the latter must' ave suflicient ca-' pacity to withstand relatively large charging currents.

Throughout the specification and claims the terms stator and rotor have been applied to the stationary and the movable parts, respectivel of the governor, but it should be understoo that these terms are used merely for convenience in description and are. not intended as iting in any sense, but should be regarded as applicable equally to -any equivalent fixed and movable art's, respectively."

While the metho fliereindescribed'and'the form of apparatus for carrying thisnnethod into effect, constitutes a preferred-jbmbgdi; ment of the invention, it is to be-understcod that the invention is-not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made :in either without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the-a pended claims.-

-1.- A power-plant of the character described comprising, in combination, a: gas roducer, an engine connected to the 'gas 'pro ucer and adapted to produce the air-suction forthe operation of the same, a storage'battery; a dynamo-electric machine connected to the englue and adapted to be driven thereb said engine being normall operable'at a fraction of its maximum 109. .to provide theminimum air-suction to maintam'thegas'producer in continuous operation, a distributing circuit connected to the dynamo-electric machine, andcontrol means for varying theengine operation to meet a varying demand in the distribution circuit and to charge the battery at a predetermined rate.

2. A power plant of the character described comprising, in combination, a, gas producer,

an engine connected to the as producer, a storage battery, a dynamo-e ectric machine connected to the engine and blasting means for the producer normally erable to providethe minimum air-suction maintain the,

gas producer in continuous operation, a'distributing circuit connected to the dynamoelectric machine, and control means operating concomitantly with varying demand in the distribution circuit to control the engine output whereby the dynamo will charge the :batteryv at substantially alleng'ine loads up to the maximum load ofthe dynamo electric machine.

1 -3. A power plant ofthe character described comprising, in combination a gas-producer,

.an'internal combustion engine connected to the gas producer, a storage battery, a dynamoelectric machine connected to the engine and adapted to be driven thereby, said engine being normally operable at a fractionof its maximum speed, blasting means operable by saidjengine and adapted to provide the minimum air-suction to maintain the gas producer in continuous operation when said engine is operated at said-fraction of its maximum speed to charge the battery at a predetermined rate, a distributing circuit connected to the dynamo-electric machine, and means responsive to current discharge from the bat-' ter'y to varythe engine'operation tocause it to carry varying loads. r

' "4, A power plant of the character described comprising, in combinationa;- gas producer, an engine connected to the gas producer,

- a storage battery, a dynamo-electric machine connected to the engine and adapted to be driven thereby, said engine being normally operable at a fraction of its maximum speed, blastingmeans operable to provide the minimum alr-suctionto maintain the gas producer in continuous operation, a distributing circuit connected to the dynamo-electric machine,

said dynamo-electric machine being connected between the battery and the distribution circuit, and control means comprising an elecharging the battery withiuthe capacity of the dynamo electric machine at substantially the said predetermined rate. I

- 5. In ag powerl plant of the-character described comprising a gas producer, an engine operated therefrom, an electric generator driven by the engi ne,iand' a storage bat- "the generator; the method bffppe consists normally operatingjtheengine at a' fraction of its maximumca'pacityto carry tery anda distribution connected with the minimum distribution load and to charge the battery at a predetermined rate, and vary to meet increased demands in the distribution circuit and to also continue the charging of the battery at a predetermined rate.

Y 6. In a powerplant of the character de- 7 the engine operation inaccordance with ncreased load, to increase the dynamo output driven by the engine, and a storage battery and a distribution circuit connected with the generator; the method of continuous operation which consists 'in normally running the engine at a fraction ofits maximum capacity to cause blasting of the producer at its minimum driving rate and to cause such dynamo output as will carry the minimum distribution load and charge the stora e battery to "f at a predeterminedrate, varying the engine operation to carry an increased load by controlling the fuel input to the engine in accordance with the flow ofscurrent from the dynamo to the storage-battery to vary'the output of the dynamo to meetthe demand in the distribution circuit, and to charge the storage battery at a predetermined rate so long as the demand in the distribution circuit is within the capacity ofthe enginegenerator, and varying the rate of blasting of the producer in accordance with'the increased demand for gas.

7. A gas-power plant of the character described comprising a gas producer, means for blasting said producer to cause the generation of gas and for feeding said gas to a delivery main, a gas engine connected to said delivery main, anelectric generator driven: by said engine, a distribution circuit connect ed to said generator including amotor for operating the blasting and gas feeding means, a storage battery connected to said generator, and means for controlling the operation of the gas engine tocause the generator to carry the distribution lead and charge the storagebattery' at a predetermined rate.

8. A gas-power plant of the character described comprising a gas producer, means for v blasting said producer to cause the generat on of gas and for feeding said. gas to a delivery, main, :1 gas engine connected to said deliyery main, an electric generator driven by 884d engine, a distribution circuit connected to said blasting and gas feeding means, a storage battery connectedto said generator, and means for controlling'the operation of the gas en-' gine to cause the generator to carry the distribution'load and chargethe storage battery at a predeterminedirate, and means for varyingt e operation of the blasting and gas feedjug-means in accordance with the demand for 'ation which g generator including a motor for operating the current for lighting and power purpbses, com prising a gas producer, mea ns for blasting said producer to cause" the-generation of gas and for feeding said gas to a delivery main; a heating device such asastove, connected to said delivery main and adapted-to operate upon the generated gas;v a gas engine con-.

' and charge thestorage nected to the delivery main and adapted to 'operate upon the'jgenerated gas, an electric generator driven by said engine, a distribution circuit connected to said generator in-j eluding a 'motor for operating the blasting and gasfeeding means,-a storage battery connected to said generator, and means for controllin thegoperation of the gas engine to cause t 1e generator; to carry the distributi'on load'and to fcha'rge'the' storage battery at. a predetermined rate. A 10. A domesticgas-power plantof the character described adapted to supply gas for heating, cooking, and thelike, and to supply electric current for lighting and power, purposes, comprising a gas producer; means for blasting said pro ucer to cause thegeneration of gas'and 'for, feeding said gasto a delivery main;- a heating device such as a stove connectedto said delivery main; a gas engine connected to said delivery main, an electric genera-tor driven by said engine, a distributiOn Scircuit connected to said generator in and gas feeding means, a storage battery concharacteristics as to operate upon the gas generated at minimum driving rate (if the producer, an electric generator driven by said operating means, and means controlled by said electric generator for effecting control of the said operating means. l

12.' A gas-power plant of the character described comprising a gas producer adapted to contain a fuel bed means for blasting the fuel bed -to produce a combustible gas, including an engine, an :electric generator driven by said engine, a distribution circuit connected to said generator, and control means operated by said generator operative during periods of zero-external load upon said distribution circui-t for causing said blasting means to normally blast theproducer at minimum driving rate.

13. A gas power plant of the character de' least at its gas-power plant of the character described domprising a" gas producer adaptedto contain a fuel bed; means for blasting the fuel bed to produce a combustible gas including an engine adapted to be operated by the generated gas; an electric generator driven by said engine, a distribution circuit connected to said generator, and control means in said distribution circuit for auto matically varying the operating rate of said engine to thereby control the blasting rate of said producer. 7

14. A aspowerplant as set forth in'claim I '13, in w ichfthe control means is responsive to extrnal'load conditions in'said distribution circuit to automatically cause va-v riat'ion of the driving rate of said engine to carry said load up to the maximum load operative under conditionsof zero external load to maintain operation'of sa d engine at .thereof,';an'd in which said control means is a rate which causes blasting of the producer '1 at least atits. minimum dr ving rate. v

signature.

HARRY RSMITH.

In testimony whereof hereunto 'afiix my I 'cluding'amotor for operating the blasting, I

'nected to said enerator, means for control- 

